Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 424 › Conversation 424-022

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Presidential Address

Thursday, March 29, 1973 · 9:55 PM–10:43 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation424-022 on Tape 424StartThursday, March 29, 1973 at 9:55 PMEndThursday, March 29, 1973 at 10:43 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 424-022 ↗

AI Summary

President Richard Nixon rehearsed a televised address to the nation concerning the conclusion of the Vietnam War and various domestic policy objectives. He utilized the rehearsal to refine rhetorical themes emphasizing American resilience, prosperity, and the moral strength displayed by returning prisoners of war. The session focused on framing the post-war era as a period for national renewal and addressing the challenges of peace.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 5 minutes of this recording (about 67% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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My fellow Americans, as we consider some of our problems tonight, let us never forget how fortunate we are to be living in America at this time of day.
We have met the longest and most difficult war in our history, which maintained respect for the United States throughout and around the world.
We are the strongest and most prosperous nation in the world's history.
Some programs fall under that, and some others don't.
We play the leading role in reducing the burden of violence in the world, of bringing down the walls of hostility, to provide the people with the ability to structure less and less in the world.
Because of our will, we have the means to move forward.
Exciting.
We have other programs in progress.
We are working on the works
We have the means to be more generous, the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and any nation at war.
At this time, it is so essential that we put aside the differences of war and violence and turn.
The only thing we're going to challenge is the people that men turn.
Men turn now.
We are the states which have united us.
We must not overlook a third of them.
We, the military, mine, and earth, leave them out of it.
And the height of their strength and wealth, because their people became so, so known, and lost the very current spirit which had lived there.
It is ironical, sister, which has led to their greatness.
It's a very good thing.
We can't and must not let this happen to us.
We're in a war which cost us so much in lives, money, and I don't think of it at all.
As it is.
uh, where it says, uh, we can't, we're not, we just have to go back and do it this way.
And tonight I am confident that we're, that this will not happen.
My confidence is, I mean, crazy for the fact that a war which cost us, cost America so much, Hawaii's money, I would do anything I want.
And it finally is.
at the very last minute.
It was when I had provided an opportunity for millions of Americans to see again the spirit of which they know, which is the great mission of which they know is true.
Before that, it was about almost eight years ago that I arrived.
who had spent almost eight years in a communist prison cell in North Vietnam.
For over four years, he was kept, he was in solitary confinement.
He never saw another single, he never saw another human in prison except his captain.
Two meals a day.
We're sick.
We're going to need this coming up again.
All they can hear.
We're coming up again.
We're powerless.
Survive.
We'll come off the plane today.
So will the American flag.
Uh, I asked him how he was able to survive it.
Two times before he died.
And then he said, in the evening.
I thought that it wasn't true.
I'd like to say that it was fake.
Fake and done.
Fake and done.
America has been sorely affected by the war.
But the American character will be even more, will be tested even more by the challenges of peace.
That's why I am here.
We ourselves tonight cannot do so much.
If men who suffered so much for America could have such faith, let us, who have received so much from America, be who we are today.
Amen.
That's the last prayer.
For our faith in the God, our faith in our men and our faith in our souls.
The great challenges that lie ahead.
This time today, it will one day be remembered.
That this was our response to God.

NARA Description

On March 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:55 pm and 10:43 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 424-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 424-22

Date: March 29, 1973
                                              -22-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 424-32 (cont’d)

Time: Unknown between 9:55 am and 10:43 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his address to the Nation About Vietnam and Domestic Problems.

[See Public Papers of the President, 1973, pp. 234-8]

Also recorded on March 30, 1973

  • 044-087 9:41 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:41 pm and 9:49 pm.
  • 424-020 9:45 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:45 pm and 9:55 pm.
  • 044-088 9:49 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:49 pm and 9:50 pm.
  • 044-089 9:51 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:51 pm.
  • 044-090 9:51 PM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at 9:51 pm.
  • 424-021 9:55 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:55 pm and 10:43 pm.
  • 424-023 9:55 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:55 pm and 10:43 pm.
  • 424-024 9:55 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:55 pm and 10:43 pm.

All 60 conversations from March 30, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 424-022, March 30, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/424-022 (accessed October 1, 2026).